Meeting Recap - August 14

Twenty-eight members attended this week’s meeting. Eric Birkenstein brought a guest, Michael Karger who is longtime friend and potential new member.  Kristen Leahy brought two guests. Mary Walden who is her boss as the new WYO Board President (replacing John Thomas) and who may be interested in membership. Ms. Leahy also brought Dr. Stephen Neuberger who is the WYO Treasurer.

 

President Bob Baker opened the meeting and was followed by Greg Skirving who gave the Thought for the Day, Baker also called our attention to sign-up sheets fliers on the tables for the Last Blast of Summer. Volunteers will be needed to serve beer on behalf of our club.

 

Eric Birkenstein gave out a set of Rotary glasses as thank you gifts for retiring WNRC Board members David Grant and Connie Berman.

 

Several members had Happy Bucks moments. Robert Madirossian had a thought and D.J. Gotaas was particularly pleased to tell us the last of his children finished college.

 

Bob Baker then introduced the speaker who was Tim Crossin, head of Operation North Pole. This is a non-profit volunteer group that stages a December Christmas party for 50-60 families and about 120 kids who are in hospitals, They gather the kids from both Lurie’s Children’s hospital and the parents from the four Ronald McDonald’s residency in the Chicago area.

 

The event starts with a morning breakfast for all, a train ride in lavishly decorated car, a mini-parade and finally a party at the Rosemont Convention Center,  He also noted they are now getting coats for some of the kids from Rotary’s Operation Warm courtesy of our Rich Lalley.

 

All in all, Operation North Pole is a monster affair and done all by volunteers with only some food and renting the train being out-of-pocket expenses.